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C. VL. STURTEVANT, Ancillary Administrator.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Appumion med nec. 13, 1'897.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet I.

Mgr-ew l mi Ncnms mens co. wom-uma, whnwcmn. nv c.

No. 62I,723. Patented Mar. 2|, |899.

S; LOWE, Decd. C. L. STURTEVANT, Ancillary Administrator;

KmT'rma MACHINE. (Application led Dec. 1S, 1897.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

kno Manel) 9 sheets-sheet 3.

Patented. Mar. 2|, |899.

w. Q NQ s. Lowa, ned. C. L. STURTEVANT, Ancillary Admnis'traiur. KNITTING MACHINE. (Application led Dec. 13, 1897.)

No. 62u23.

(No Model) .Q 'y y Patented Mar. 2|', |899.

s. Lowe, bwa. C. I... STURTEVANT, Aneillary Administrator.

KNITTING MAGHINE. (Application 'led Dec. 13, 1897.)

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 (No Model.)

vn: Nonns paens c45,4 PHoTaLxmo, WASHINGTON, n, c.

Patented Mar. 2|, |899.

S LOWE Dec dl c. i.. sTunTEvAiiT', Ancillary Administrator.- KNITTING MACHINE.

(Appumion med neo. 1s, 1897.)

No. 621,723. VPafnted Mar. 2|, |899. S. LOWE, Decd.

C. L. STURTEVANT,'Ancllary Administrator.

KNITT'ING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 13, 1897.) (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

51ans co, PHoToLITno No. s2|,723.

C. L. STURTEVANT, Ancillary Administrator.

KNITTING MACHINE. (Application led Dec. 18, 1.897.)

'9 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

No. 621,723. 'Patented Mar. 2|, |899.

* s. Lowa, need.

C. L. STUBTEVANT, Ancillary Administrator. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application med neg. 1a, 1897.) (No Model.)A 9 Sheets-Sheet 8.

No. 62|,723. Patented Mr'. 2|, |899.

S. LOWE, Decd. C. L. STURTEVANT, AAncillary Administrator. KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applicaiop filed Dec. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.) 9 shuts-#Sheet 9.

l Ma/0.

Wdzeffew- @my/Q.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

CHARLES L. STURTEVANT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AN-

CILLARY ADMINISTRATOR OF SAMUEL LOWE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR T O JOHN- WILLIAM LAMB AND JESSE HIND, OF NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND,

KNITTING- MACHINE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,723, dated March 21, 1899.

Application iiled- December 13, 16397.l Serial No. 661,766. (No model.)

To al? whom t may concern:

Be it known that SAMUEL Lowa, of Nottingham, in the county of Nottingham, England, now deceased, did invent certain new and useful Improvements inV Knitting-Machines for Tubular Fabrics, of which the following is a specification. The object of 'this invention is to produce on straight-bar bearded-needle knitting-machines fashioned tubular work--such as stockings, socks, vest and shirt sleeves, pant-legs, and the like--and also fashioned tubular work with a selvaged opening ordivision, as when making pants in halves and also complete pairs of pants without seams.

The machine selected to illustrate this invention is of the well-known straight-bar bearded-needle rib-frame type, in which two sets of needles carried by straight bars are arranged to cross each other substantially at right angles, those of oneset. workin g between lthose of the other set, as shown in many patents-for example, in United States Patent No. 28,133, dated May l, i860-and the mechanism necessary for carryingout this invention is described with reference to such machine, there beiug such differences with respect to timing and arrangement as will be readily understood by the knitting-machine builder after the action of the knitting devices have been hereinafter fully explained. It will be therefore unnecessary to refer the several movements of the knitting instruments to their original source or to illustrate the construction of the machine further than to show the shape of the cams for operating the needle-bars and' the mechanism adopted for knocking over the courses accordingto the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical cross-section of a bearded-needle rib-frame, showing the improvements which constitute the present invention for producing fashioned tubular work, such as the legs of stockings, and Fig. 2 shows in plan view and on an enlarged scale so much of one division of a rib-frame as will illustrate the p0- sition of the fashioning mechanism required for producing a fashioned tube. Fig. 3 shows,

detached, in front elevation the fashioning- 5ov point holder. Fig. 4 shows in side elevation so much of the mechanism as serves to operate the horizontal needles, their position in the machine being indicated b'y their relation to the fixed presser-bar. Fig. 5 is a side ele- 55 vation of the mechanism for moving the knocking-over bar of the vertical needles. Fig. 6 shows in side elevation so much of the mechanism as serves to operate the knocki'ngover slide for the horizontal needles. Fig. 7 6o shows in side elevation the mechanism for imparting an independent rocking motion to the fashioning-points used in conjunction with the horizontal needles. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of so much of one division of the ma- 65 chine as will serve to illustrate a suitable arrangement of mechanism for operating the thread-carriers and shogging the cam-shaft, and Fig. 9 is a detached view of the mechanism used for arresting the movement of 7o the thread-carriers and shogging the camshaft.

Diagrams l to ll, inclusive, illustrate the cycle of movements of the knitting devices to produce tubular work. 75

It is `for the purpose of simplifying the description that reference in this part of the specification is made only to the formation of the seamless tubular part of the stocking in the working of the machine, the Inode of 8o producing the foot in conjunction withl the fashioned tube being well understood by the experienced knitter.

Referring now to Fig. l, A is the cam-shaft, which is rotated, as heretofore,through aspur- 8 5 wheel a, gearing into a spur-pinion on the main driving-shaft. (Not shown in the drawings.) From this cam-shaft all the movements are derived that it will be necessary hereinafter to refer to.

Upon the shaft A the various cams for operating the vertical and horizontal needles during the knitting and fashioning aresituate.

l l* represent the cams which operate the needle-bar B, which carries the vertical nee- 9 5. dles b, and 2 il* represent the cams which opneedles.

erate the needle-bar C, which carries the horizontal needles c. The sinkers cl, which indent the thread, slide, as usual, in the sinkerbar D, which constitutes also the presser-bar for both sets of needles, its vertical edge d. serving to press the beards of the needles b and its under face d2 forming the presser for the beards of the needles c.

The vertical needles b are mounted in their needle-bar B, as usual, which bar is pivoted to arms b', projecting from a rock-shaft B. This shaft is rocked. through the cam l, which actuates an arm b2, pendent from the rockshaft, and thus the vertical movement of the needles l) is obtained. Extending down from the needle-bar is an arm b3, which ispivoted to a link b4, connecting with an arm b5, pendent from a rock-shaft B2 and carrying at its lower end a bowl which bears upon the cam 1f. As these cams rotate together a compound vertical and rocking motion will be imparted tothe vertical needles, as heretofore. The horizontal needles c are secured to their bar C, as usual. This bar C is pivoted to the arm c 0f a rock-shaft (J, actuated from a cam 2 (see Fig. 4) on the cam-shaft A. Bearing on this cam 2 is a bowl of an arm c2, fixed to and pendent from the rock-shaft C', which as it rocks under the rotation of the cam imparts the to-an d-fro motion to the horizontal These needles are also simultaneously rocked by the cam 2*, a bowl bearing on which and carried. by a pendent arm c3 on a rock-shaft C2 transmits through an arm c4 and a link c5 the requisite rocking motion to the bar C of the horizontal needles c,

The knocking-over bar E, which carries the bits e for casting off the formed loops from the Vertical needles b, is carried similarly to the needle-bar B. It is pivoted to an arin e', secured to a rock-shaft E, pendent from and secured to which is an arm e2, carrying a bowl which bears on the cam 3 (see Fig. 5) of the cam-shaft A. The rotation of this cam lowers the knocking-over bits, so that the horizontal needles c may be brought into contact with the pressing-surface d2 of the sinker-bar D. The bar E is also connected to arms e3, which are pivoted at e4 to levers e5, and these latter' are jointed to arms e6, which are loosely mounted on the shaft B2 and fitted with bowls which are held in contact with cams or disks on the shaft A by means of springs for the purpose of maintaining the verticality of the knocking-over bar.

For eifecting the knocking over of the work formed on the needles c the knocking-over slide F is provided. This slide, which is carried by the needle-bar C and rocks therewith, has a bracket extension f (see Fig. 6) on its under side, the extremity of which takes into the forked ends of a leverf', secured to a rockshaft F. Pendent from this rock-shaft is an arm f2, fitted with a bowl which bears on a cam It on the cam-shaft A. The forward edgev of the slide F is notched to receive the ends of the needles c and allows of the slide entering between the needles, so as to knock over the last-formed row of loops. The cam 4 is so timed as'to insure the advance of the slide when the knitted loops are on the beards of the needles and are ready to be knocked over or cast off.

Gis the thread-carrier, mounted on the sliding rod G and actuated by the usual slur-box, but in this case timed to lay its thread twice upon the stems of the Vertical needles during one rotation of the cam-shaft A by means of the mechanism shown at Figs. 8 and-9 and hereinafter particularly described with relation to the manufacture of pants. The action of the thread-carrier, it will be understood, is suspended during fashioning, as usual, its arrest on theright-h'and side of the division being effected im mediately before the cam-shaft is shogged to bring the narrowing-cams into action.

H is the holder for the fashioning pins or points. It is carried, as usual, by a rack-bar H', (see Figs. 2 and 3,) which is free to rise and lift the points out of action. These points are shown as situated at the left-hand side of the division only and will suffice when tubular fashioned work is being made. The thread-carrier when arrested to allow of the fashioning mechanism being brought into action is at the right-hand side of the division; but as these fashioning-points work in precisely the same way as those of other knitting-machines (but in this particular machine at one side only of the division) no detailed description, either of their action or of the 'Ico means for setting them in action, will be refixed to the holder and are slightly curved to insure proper contact with the vertical needles for the purpose of taking off the loops and moving them to the adjacent needles. The bent pins or points h* are set in the end of a rock-lever h', pivoted to the holder H and capable of receiving an independent rocking motion. These points act on the horizontal selvage-needles and are used for transferring the loops on the same to adjacent needles. The top of this rock-lever h' is forked to enable it to receive a rocking motion without interfering with the rising-and-falling motion,which motion is common to both sets of points and is derived from cams in the manner well understood.

The independent motion of the points 7L* (see Fig. 7) is derived from the-cam 5 on the cam-shaft A. Bearing upon this cam is a bowl carried by a rock-lever h2, fulcrumed at H2, A link h3, pivoted to this rock-lever, connects at its upper end with a crank-lever h4, fulcrumed at H3 and carrying at its upper end a link h5, which is pivoted to a crank-lever h6, fulcrumed at H4. The lower end of this crank-lever is connected to a horizontal rod It?, which extends from end to end of the machine and engages with the forked ex- IIO the drawings) to bring down the narrowing-Y points 7L and ha", the cam 5 will advance thel points 7V, cause them to take up the formed loops on the end needles c of the division, re-

place the loops on adjacent needles, and retire, preparatory .to the rising of the fashioning-points, clear of the knitting mechanism.

It should be remarked that in order to insure the placing of the indented thread upon In order to make more clear the combinedl action of the parts above described, a series of diagrams is appended to the drawings, which will show the progressive action of the knitting instruments during one rotation of the cam-shaft,in which time a complete course is formed on each row of needles, and such courses are joined at the end needles and form tubular work.

Referring to Diagram l, the vertical needles b are at their highest position and the threadcarrier G has passed from left to right, laying the thread on their stems, and the sinkers have indented and divided the thread, as usual. At this stage the horizontal needles c are inactive. Diagram 2 shows the needles .b pressed and the formed loops landed onto their beards. Diagram 8 shows a further descent of the needles b, the knocking-.over bits e having come into action and cast off the formed loops. Up to this point the vertical needles have operated to form a coursefas in ordinary machines. The next step inthe cycle is to employ the needles b for receiving the thread for the horizontal needles c. To this end they rise to the position of Diagram 4, when the thread-carrier is moved from right to left, laying, as before, a thread upon their stems, which thread is indented by the sinkers d, as in Diagram l. The horizontalr needles c, hitherto quiescent, have now commenced to move in order to receive the indented thread from the needles b. Diagram 5 shows the needles b in the vposition for laying the thread upon the needles c, the knocking-over bits e having been lowered to allow of the needles c being moved under the presser d2 to receive the thread from the vertical needles. The rocking of the needles b next brings the indented thread under the beards of the needles c, which are now rocked to press those neeF dles into Contact with the pressing-surface d2 and close their beards upon the indented thread, as indicated by Diagram 6. The formed loops on the stems of the needles c are next, while the beardsA of those needles are pressed, landed on the beards. For this purpose the needles c move back to the position of Diagram 7 through the knocking-over slide F. In order to free the vertical needles from the indented thread just laid on the horizon-` tal needles and at present held in the beards of the vertical needles, these latter ascend and move forward to be pressed, as seen at Diagramv 8. Meanwhile the needles c are rocked upward to land the indented thread in contact with the vertical needle-stems onto the beards of those needles, as shown at Diagram 9. The needles b now descending free themselves from the indented thread, as shown at Diagram l0. The knocking-over slide, which coacts with the horizontal needles c, then moves forward beyond the heads of the needles and knocks over the formed loops of the needles c, as shown at Diagram 11. At the same time the knocking-over bits e commence to rise for the purpose of assuming their'active position, asin Diagram l. This completes the cycle of motions of the knitting instruments, which motions are recommenced by the rising of the needles b to the position shownin Diagram 1.

So long as the cycleof move-ments is repeated tubular work of a given uniform diameter will be produced, and when it is required to fashion the fabric the traverse of the thread-carrier is arrested and the cam-shaft shogged to bring the fashioning-cams andthe IOO The above description explains the method of making tubular-fashioned work; but when it is desired to form a selvaged opening orl division in the work-as, for example, when the ,work known as half-pants is to be producedthe leg is made by the method described, and bn the completion of the same instead of forming one course on each set of needles alternately two courses in succession are produced on each set of needles alter- IIO nately, and this, with the requisite fashioning, is continued untilthe body of the pant is completed. Back and front selvages are thus formed," the former to be united with the back selvage of a correspondinghalf-pant and the otherselvage to receive the strip forming part of the buttonhole attachment. As an illustration of this inode of working let it be supposed that a course has been completed on the horizontal needles and the thread-carrier is at the right-hand side of the needles. The carrier now moves to the left and a course is knitted on the vertical needles, which course may be considered as a continuation of the last course knitted on the horizontal needles. The carrier next moves to the right and a second course is knitted on the vertical needles. The carrier then returns to the left and a course is knitted on thehorizontal needles, this course Abeing a continuation of the last course knitted on the vertical needles. The carrier again returns to the right and a second course is knitted on the horizontal needles. Thus the selvaged openin g is formed on the left-hand side of the division. In producing this work it will be understood that the thread-carrier delivers its thread at every traverse onto the stems of one and the same set of needles.

For enabling the selvaged opening in the work to be made the machine is provided with duplicate cams and the cam-shaft is moved endwise at the required time or the cam-bowls are moved from one set of cams to the other. Thus the machine may be fitted with three sets of cams, the first set producing one course on each set of needles alternately for one revolution of the cam-shaft. The second set of cams may produceV two courses in succession on the vertical needles at each revolution of the cam-shaft, and the third set of cams would produce two courses in succession on the horizontal needles at each revolution of the cam-shaft.

The cam-shaft or the cam-bowls will be moved as required by any arrangement of mechanism similar to that generally used for sov similar purposes in existing machines.

In knitting half-pants it will be found desirable to fashion on one selvage onlynamely, the hack selvage. In this case the fashioning-points for one set of needles only will be brought into use.

For making a complete pair of pants williout seams the tubular body extending to the fork of the pants is made by the aid of a single thread-carrier. When this point is reached, an additional thread-carrier is thrown into action and the traverse of both carriers is limited to the size of the leg and to the fashionings in the same, the machine thus producing two tubes at the same time. In this way the tubes forming the legs are united to a single tube forming the body rof the pants. Pants of this description may also be made by starting at the ankle of both legs with two carriers, completing the legs up to the fork, and then making the body with the aid of one carrier only. In effecting this work it will be understood that the fashioning will proceed at both sides of the division. The machine must therefore be fitted, like the ordinary fashioning-machines, with a double set of fashioning-points for each division.

The mechanism for throwing the threadcarriers in and ont of action may be of any approved construction, but that shown at Figs. S and 9 is the arrangement preferred for giving two traversing motions of the thread-carriers for one rotation of the camshaft A. Mounted loosely on this shaft is a miter-wheel a', the boss of which carries a collar a2, which is notched to receive a projection a3 from the sliding clutch a4, actuated by a forked arm I. This fork enters an annular groove in the clutch a4 and is loosely mounted upon the shogging-shaft I between fixed collars, which impart to it the requisite inaf ter described. A lug projecting from the forked arm interlocks with the teeth of the ruiter-wheel a when the sliding clutch is disengaged, and thus retains the miter-wheel in position for the clutch to ren gage therewith. In order to prevent this miter-wheel from moving endwise when the sliding clutch is thrown out of action, and thereby disengaging itself from the miter-wheel g, which it is intended to drive, a finger projecting from the framing enters a groove on the boss of the miter-wheel a on the inner side, and thus retains it in gear with the miter-wheel g. This wheel is keyed to a transverse shaft g', which has its bearing on the framing of the machine and carries at its rear end a snailcam g2. This cam acts alternately on the bowls g3 g3, mounted on studs carried by a sliding bar g4, which is'connected by a link g5 to a vertical oscillating arm g5, having its fulcrum at the base of the machine. The upper end of this arm is connected, as shown in Fig. 8, by a link-rod Q7 to the ordinary slurbox G2, in which are grooves in which the thread-carrier rods G Gr rest and from which the sliding motions of said rods are obtained by frictional contact with the slur-box. This friction driving device for the thread-carrier rods is well known in the trade and is illustrated in United States Patent No. 349,352, dated September 2l, 1836. A is rotated its motion will be transmitted through the ruiter-wheels a g to the cam g2, which for every rotation imparted to it will (by striking the studs g3 g3 alternately) give two vibrations to the oscillating arm gfi and by reason of the connection of this arm with the slur-box G2 two traverse motions Will bev given to the slur-box, and consequently two lays of thread will be delivered to the needles for every rotation of the cam-shaft. The mechanism forinitiating these movements is shown at Fig. 9, where I2 is an arm pendent from a fixed point and carrying a bowl t', which bears upon a cam 6 on the cam-shaft A. Mounted loosely on'the axis of the bowl is a pawl t", which takes into the teeth of a ratchet-wheel i2, loose upon a stud-axle, which is made fast to the framing. This ratchet-wheel carries a calnisfupon which bears a stud i, carried by an arm 5, made Vfast to the shogging-shaft l. As, therefore, this cam is rotated it will rock the shogging-shaft I', giving it two movements for each rotation of the cam. This movement of the shogging-shaft serves, through the action of the ordinary shoggingcam I3 I4 on the cam-shaft A, to shift the forked armA I, which it carries, and disengage the clutch a4 from the boss of the miter-wheel, and thereby arrest the thread carrier. A

4lateral shifting motion in the manner here- As the'cam-shaft IOO further result which it attains is to impart shaft in order that the requisite variations4 in the number ot' uninterrupted courses of knitting may be secured. This end is effected by changing the ratchet-wheel for one of a greater or less nu mber'of teeth to suit the work in hand.

Referring now to Fig. 8, it will be seen that made fast to the shogging-shaft I' is an arm i, which carries a bowl i7, that is brought by the rocking of the shaft I into the plane of motion of one or other of the acting surfaces of the shogging-cam I3 I4, and thus the results above mentioned are obtained. rIhe shogging-cam is formed of -two parts l3 I4, each part being provided with two steps. The first step on the part I3, by acting upon the bowl i7 of the arm 6, will shift the forked arm I of the shogging-shaft laterally, thereby disconnecting the clutch from the miter-wheel and stopping the further action of this gear. A friction-clip may be fitted to the cam-shaft A to insure that the shogging-shaft ,I shall make its endwise movement before the camshaft when the rst stepof the part I3 of the shogging-cam acts on `the bowl .i7 of the arm 6. This endwise movement of the shoggingshaft I brings an adjustable collar securedv to that shaft up to a fixed portion of the framing, and its endwise motion is thus limited. The second step of the part l3 of the shoggingcam as it comes around will now shog the cam-shaft in the reverse direction and bring the fashioning-cams into action. A The cam 713 will hold the bowl of the arm t6 opposite the part I3 of the shogging-cam until the two steps of the shogging-cam have passed. The bowl carried by the arm i6 will then fall toward the cam-shaft, and at the proper time will be acted upon in like manner by the two steps of the other part I4 of the shogging-cam and move back first the shogging-shaft I' and then the cam-shaft A, whereby the knitting-cams will be again brought into action and the miterwheels will be caused to transmit motion to the thread-carriers, as before.

The above-described arrangement of knitting-machine is equally adapted to the production of finished seamless stockings, the tubular leg and foot being made by the method described with reference to the production of tubular fashioned fabrics.

For making the heel and toe the machine is fitted with sliding pressers and the work is knitted on one set of needles only, the number of needles pressed being gradually reduced and then increased again, by which means the heel and toe known as the Nian tic heel and toe are produced.

The present invention is herein described.

Having now described the said invention,

vwhat is claimed is- 1. In a straight-bar bearded-needle knitting-machine fitted with two sets of needles arranged similarly to the needles in a ribframe, the combination with said needles, of means whereby the'thread for all the courses is laid on one set of needles, and vthe threads o`f the'alternate courses are formed respectively into loops, the one on the one set of needles and the other on the other set, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a straight-'bar bearded-needle knitl ting-machine fitted with two sets o f needles arranged similarly to the needles in a ribframe, the combination with said needles of friction-driven reciprocating thread-carriers operated to always deliver the thread to one and the same set of needles, and means whereby the thread for all the courses is laid on one set of needles and the threadsv of the alternate courses are formed respectivelyinto loops, the one on the one set o`f needles and the other on the other set, to produce tubular work, substantially as` herein described.

3. 'In a straight-bar bearded-needle knitting-machine fitted with two sets of needles arranged similarly to the needles in a ribframe, the combination with said needles, of friction-'driven reciprocating` thread-carriers, mechanism for fashioning at one end of :the division, and means whereby the thread for all the courses is laid on one set of neea dles and the threads of the alternate courses are formed respectively into loops, theone on` the one set of needles andthe other on the other set to produce tubular work, substantially as herein described.

4. In a bearded-needle knitting-machine Withtwo sets of needles arranged similarly to the needles in a rib-frame, the combination with the said needles, of friction-driven re ciprocating thread-carriers, mechanism for fashioning at one or both edges of a division of the fabric, movable knocking-over bits, mechanism operating the said knocking-over bits, and a cam-shaft fitted with cams, which,

at each revolution, operates one set of nee= dles, so that the thread laid thereon at' one traverse of the thread-carrier, is automatically formed into loops on those needles, while the thread laid upon the same needles at the next succeeding traverse of the thread-carrier, is automatically indented on those nee'- dles, and transferred to the other set of needles, and formed into loops on such other set of needles, substantially as set forth.

5. In a bearded-needle knitting-machine with two sets of needles arranged similarly to the needles in a rib-frame, the combination ILO With the said needles, of friction-driven reciprocating thread-carriers, mechanisms for fashioning at one or both edges of a division of the fabric, and mechanism operating the said needles, whereby the thread laid on one set of needles at two successive traverses of the thread-carrier, is automatically formed into two rows of loops on such needles, While the thread laid on the same needles as the zo two succeeding traverses of the thread-carrier, is indented on sneh needles, and antomatically transferred to the other set of needles, for'the formation of two rows of loops on such other needles, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES L. STURTEVANT, Ancillary admin/slm for ofthe esta/'e of Samuel Lowe, deceased.

In presence 01.-

NV. B. CORWIN, M. DILLoN. 

